David Fair

News Director

News Director, David Fair

Nearly three-quarters of David Fair’s 20+ years in radio has been at WEMU. Since 1994, he has been on the air at 5am each weekday on 89.1 FM as the local host of NPR’s Morning Edition. Over the years, Fair has had the opportunity to interview nationally and internationally known politicians, activists and celebrities. But he feels the most important features and interviews have been with those who live and work here at home. He believes his professional passions and desires fit perfectly into WEMU’s commitment to serving a local audience.

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An Ann Arbor woman is the new champion on the television game show "Jeopardy." Diane Peloquin last night earned $15,700 to win the night. The Law and social work graduate student unseated Arthur Chu who had been reigning champion for 12, days. Last night he earned no money and finished in last place.

With 6-9 inches of snow expected today, all public school districts in Washtenaw County closed for the day. There is a long list of private and parochial closings, as well. The entire list for Washtenaw and surrounding counties can be found here:

Washtenaw County is among the many in Michigan under a Winter Storm Warning. The National Weather Service issued the warning, to be in effect until three this afternoon. Storm snowfall totals could reach between 6-9 inches.

According to the NWS Hazardous Weather Statement, the peak of the snowfall is expected between six and 10am, with up to one-to-two inches of snowfall per hour.

There will be a new Representative in the 12th Congressional District next year, but it won't be current State Senator Rebekah Warren. The Ann Arbor Democrat posted the following statement on her Facebook page:

Water is one of the most important natural resources in Michigan. As a Great Lakes state, perhaps it's the most important. We are also spoiled with an amazing network of inland lakes, rivers and streams that enhance our quality of life in a myriad of ways. So, protecting this resource is something we think about often.

Invasive species, pollution and water levels are some of the frequent conversations we engage in. What we discuss less frequently is vast number of oil pipelines that run through the state of Michigan near, and sometimes under our precious waterways. That's the topic in the March edition of WEMU's 1st Friday Focus on the Environment.

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Michigan League of Conservation Voters Executive Director Lisa Wozniak and Beth Wallace, Community Outreach Coordinator at the National Wildlife Federation's great Lakes Regional Center discuss the hazards of so many oil pipelines around Michigan's waterways.

An Eastern Michigan University educator wants people to give themselves a 24-hour break from smartphones, text messages and other media-based technology. Professor Christine Tracy is urging students, faculty and others on the Ypsilanti campus and in nearby communities to spend today celebrating the fifth annual National Day of Unplugging.

Tracy teaches digital journalism and media ecology. She says people have a "mostly unconscious dependence on technology" and a "daylong respite is just the first step toward more enlightened use of" digital tools.

Snowy Owls don't make it to Washtenaw County every winter. They made it this winter in greater numbers than usual. Why? Where might you see one? In this week's installment of WEMU's Issues of the Environment, David Fair seeks out answers to those questions.

United States Representative John Dingell (D-Dearborn) has announced he will not seek re-election this year, after serving in Congress for nearly 60-years. His wife, Debbie, last week announced she will seek the Democratic nomination to fill the 12th Congressional seat. Today, an Ypsilanti man announced he will seek to replace the 87-year old political legend, as a Republican.

There is plenty of Hollywood and movie related news this week, and there are some new films showing this weekend. 89.1 WEMU's David Fair and Michigan Theater Executive Director and CEO, Russ Collins, have the breakdown for you.

There has to be some good that comes from all of the snow, ice and frigid temperatures, right? In this week's installment of Issues of the Environment, WEMU's David Fair explores how the environment may benefit from these conditions, come the spring and summer.

DTE Energy says it's ready if high winds tear through it's service area tonight. A High Wind Watch is in effect from this evening through end of afternoon Friday. Gusts could reach, or exceed, 50-miles per hour. That kind of wind can break tree branches and knock down power lines. So, what is the utility doing to get ready? This is DTE Spokesperson Erica Donerson.

Additionally, Donerson advises you prepare an emergency kit in case you lose power. She says it should include a battery-powered radio, batteries, water, non-perishable food items and a first-aid kit.

Wet, heavy snow blanketed portions of the region late this morning. Add in a bit of freezing rain and light rain showers, and you have the makings of a bad weather day.

There is a Winter Weather Advisory in effect until 4pm for Washtenaw and Wayne Counties. Snowfall totals could exceed two inches and ice accumulation could reach a tenth of an inch. that makes for potentially slippery and hazardous road and sidewalk conditions, so caution is advised.

There is plenty of Hollywood and movie related news this week, and there are some new films opening this weekend. 89.1 WEMU's David Fair and Michigan Theater Executive Director and CEO, Russ Collins, have the breakdown for you. It's Cinema Chat and you can listen right here:

Drinking tap water in Ann Arbor is common practice. It rates rather highly in terms of quality and taste, and most find it difficult to tell the difference between city water and bottled water. Many may not know that research shows pharmaceutical drugs are making it into the water supply.

In this week's "Issues of the Environment" 89.1 WEMU's David Fair explores the issue and what it may mean for you. The guest this week is Larry Sanford, the city of Ann Arbors' Assistant Manager of Water Treatment Services.

YPSILANTI – Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder has reappointed Ted Ligibel, a professor at Eastern Michigan University, to the State Historic Preservation Review Board. The appointment was announced Jan. 28, 2014.

Ligibel is director of Eastern Michigan’s award-winning Historic Preservation Program, which is the largest such program in the nation, with 90 graduate students and 15 undergraduates currently enrolled.

What plans do you have for your body after death? More people than ever are looking for ways to better serve the environment in their post-life decisions. What are the options? Which is better for the environment? That's the focus of this month's installment of WEMU's The Green Room.

The University of Michigan has named Dr. Mark Schlissel as the school's 14th President. On a unanimous vote this morning the board chose to hire Brown University Provost, Dr. Mark Schlissel to serve as Mary Sue Coleman's successor.

Schlissel has been Provost at Brown since July of 2011. prior to that post, He served as Dean of Biological Sciences in the College of Letters and Science at the University of California–Berkeley.

President Mary Sue Coleman announced last year that she would step down when her contract expires this summer. She will leave as Michigan's fourth longest-serving leader. Coleman was hired in 2002 after seven years as president at the University of Iowa. The 70-year-old Coleman also is the university's first female president.

The Sundance Film Festival is winding down. On this week's installment of Cinema Chat, David Fair catches up with Michigan Theater Program Director Amanda Bynum to find out what's happening in Park City, Utah. Amanda and Michigan Theater Director Russ Collins have been scouring the festival to identify movies they can bring back to Ann Arbor and the Cinetopia Film Festival.

This week the discussion centers around dispelling the myths of affordable housing. New affordable housing is often equated with being "cheaply built." We didn't have a definitive answer on the subject, so we went looking. We found that quite opposite is true.

Our guest this week builds affordable homes in the Metro Detroit Region; quality and efficiency is what makes them affordable.

Rob Nissly, Housing Director for Habitat for Humanity of Huron Valley will discuss the connection between reigning in energy costs and homeownership for lower income residents of Washtenaw County.

Governor Rick Snyder issued his 2014 State of the State Address Thursday, January 17, 2014 and 89.1 WEMU carried it live as a partnership with Michigan Public Radio Network. This is their coverage of the event and the Democratic response.